Law Offices of Howard G. Smith

1. What is a securities fraud?

Generally, when an officer of a publicly traded corporation

lies on the corporation's financial statements for the purpose

of increasing the value of the corporation's stock, or to keep

the value of the stock from decreasing, the officer is

committing securities fraud.

2. Why do corporate officers commit securities fraud?

A corporate officers' main job is to maximize the value of his

corporation's stock. Additionally, most corporate officers own

many shares of their corporation's stock. Generally, an

officer lies either because he is doing a bad job, and he lies

to keep his job, or he lies because he wants to keep the

price of the stock high long enough for him to sell his own

shares at a high price. The practice of a corporate officer

lying to keep the value of his corporation's stock artificially

high, and then selling his personal portfolio of stock at its

inflated value is commonly called "insider trading".

3. How does securities fraud hurt me?

If you purchase shares of stock in a company when a

corporate officer is committing a fraud you are hurt because

you are paying more for the stock than it is really worth.

4. What can I do if I am the victim of a securities fraud?

If you are the victim of a securities fraud, you can recover your

money by joining a class action lawsuit against the corporate

officers that defrauded you. If the lawsuit is successful at

trial, or if a settlement is reached, you will be paid for your

losses.

5. What is a class action lawsuit?

A class action lawsuit is a lawsuit where many investors

harmed by corporate fraud join together to sue the officers

that defrauded them. The defrauded investors join together

to sue the officers that defrauded them because it would not

be economically feasible for each defrauded investor to

separately sue the officers that defrauded him.

6. How can I join a class action lawsuit?

You can join a class action lawsuit simply by filling out a form

online. You may also call the Law Offices of Howard G.

Smith. Mr. Smith will personally explain to you how to join the

lawsuit and answer any questions that you may have.

7. What is expected of me if I join a class action lawsuit?

Generally, absolutely nothing. In rare instances you may be

asked to provide documentation that you purchased the

stock on the dates and in the amounts that you say you

purchased the stock.

8. Does it cost me anything to join the class action lawsuit?

No. The Law Offices of Howard G. Smith will never ask you

for any money and will cover any cost or expense of litigation

from its own funds.